Aspiring to all-round growth with English language proficiency
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Learning to communicate in English, or any foreign language for that matter, is by no means a requirement to lead a full life. But, most everyone aspires to improve their lives in some way, either by studying abroad or traveling the world or finding a good job and building a successful career.
Knowing English makes it that much easier to fulfill these pursuits, especially in a world where nearly 2 billion people in over 100 countries now speak the language. As Jarrad Merlo, Director of Teaching and Learning, E2 Test Prep, puts it:
“When you know another language, many worlds open up to you, including the worlds of the individuals you meet. And if you can speak English, all sorts of opportunities become available, not least employment, which is something you do for about a third of your life.”
View English as an opportunity, not a barrier
Undeniably, there are many advantages to learning English. For one, in the 21st century global workplace, which in all likelihood employs English as the de facto means of communication, the ability to speak the language can make all the difference – not just for landing a particular job, but to be successful at it.
Merlo points out that non-native speakers who successfully master the language not only become hugely valuable to their employers but also allow themselves the opportunity to experience intellectual and personal growth.
“The better your English language skills are, the more opportunities for growth exist. Also, not only do you get access to the world’s repository of knowledge through the internet, such as literature and scientific journals, but you get access to people,” he points out, urging non-native speakers to “see English as an opportunity and not a barrier.”
Because, perseverance always pays off, as an oft-used adage goes. For instance, E2Language alone has helped over one million students from the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam and other non-native English speaking nations around the world successfully pass their English language exams and find jobs abroad, according to Merlo.
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Learning a language is messy, but help is at hand
Picking up a new language can be hard and English especially so for learners from Southeast Asia whose native tongues differ significantly from the structures and sounds of English. It’s a process that may take years and comes with its fair share of frustrations.
Acknowledging the stumbling blocks faced by learners, Merlo observes: “Native English speakers don’t know how lucky they are, unless they’ve tried to work in another language and they’ve experienced how challenging it is.”
One way of coping with these challenges, according to Merlo, is to recognise that language learning is much like going to the gym in that you will not see improvements overnight, a week or even a month. And just like you would with your fitness regime, it’s best to “set realistic targets and do your best to stick to them,” advises Merlo.
“You need to practice your English little by little, learning a few words every day, explicitly or by chance, and over time the puzzle will start to make sense.”
Learners can also turn to technology, which has advanced exponentially in the field of education, providing students with a variety of resources to help perfect their grasp of the language.
For instance, learning solutions like E2Language’s E2 English platform, and Pearson’s PTE Academic harness artificial intelligence (AI) to help students not only learn and practice on their own time - and from the privacy of their homes - but also provide real-time and objective evaluation of their performance in tests.
Online solutions such as PTE also help students create personalised study plans and track progress over time - information that both educators and learners can use to assess their strengths, identify weaknesses, and quickly and efficiently address the gaps with targeted lessons. This serves as an invaluable asset for learners who are typically navigating thousands of words and hundreds of sounds, not to mention grammar and pronunciation.
“The key is to build one’s general English first because this is the cornerstone of any specialist English,” Merlo recommends, adding: “Spoken English is tricky for many people because the way the language looks on a page when you’re reading and when it is spoken, especially in a casual way, changes significantly.”
The internet can be a goldmine of resources for students looking to hone their grasp of spoken English, according to Merlo, while specialised online tools like E2 English and Pearson’s MyEnglishLab help students learn core concepts and focus on specific vocabulary such as those used in academic and business settings.
Given these capabilities experts increasingly view technology as actively enabling a range of online teaching methods that will effectively complement face-to-face learning for the benefit of students worldwide.
“Ultimately, the digital shift will be good for every learner as we get better with building technology for language learning. Good digital curricula allow students to gain and retain the knowledge and use it,” Merlo says.
